Camden New Journal - News: Chief Constable Andy Trotter

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Camden News - by PAUL KIELTHY
Published: 11 September 2008

Deputy Chief Constable Andy Trotter with police minister Tony McNulty

Minister backs knife searches

POLICE minister Tony McNulty said the increasing use of metal detecting arches at Camden’s train and tube stations was embraced by the public in the “very sad and tragic context” of knife murders.
The home office minister used an inspection of British Transport Police (BTP) operations on the Overground and at their Camden Road base on Thursday to promote the “very targeted and focused” use of search arches.
He said: “When at the weekend a whole lot of people descend on Camden High Street, Camden Lock or at the station, deterrence is part of the policy as much as anything else.”
He said members of the public were “very happy” to go through the arches: “They understood the context, the very sad and tragic context, of the recent deaths of young men around London from knives, so they understood and complied fully. I think there is broad public consent, certainly.”
Earlier this year the New Journal reported that secondary schools around Camden had refused police suggestions that search arches be used at the gates.
But Mr McNulty said it was “our collective responsibility to eradicate knife crime,” adding: “Throughout the whole issue of knife crime, we don’t want to condemn areas as knife hotspots. We certainly don’t want to do that with schools.”
The minister also inspected the BTP’s anti-terror equipment at Camden Road.

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